Snow, What's New?

One last sneak peek this week and this card was made with "Snowman Wishes", a very cute stamp set to be released by Clear Dollar Stamps on November 1st. There are several snowmen, trees, little bird and more! It makes for very versatile winter stamping.

Dimensions: 5"X5", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps "Snowman Wishes" Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits
Paper: K&Co. Remake Ocean Blues Mat Pad, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Brilliant Blue, Tempting Turquoise Inks, Adirondack Pitch Black Ink
Tools: Nestabilities Regular Round Dies, Stampin Up! Small & Large Oval Punches, Martha Stewart Alpine Snowflake Punch, Cuttlebug, Heat Gun, Cuttlebug Snowflake Embossing Folder, Cuttlebug Dots & Spots Embossing Folder, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch, Krylon Silver Leafing Pen, Signo White Gel Pen, Popcorn Pen, Amercan Crafts Dimensionals, Tsukineko Sponge Daubers, Primsacolor Pencils, Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump
Embellishments: Bo Bunny Brad, Michael's Holiday Metallic Organza Ribbon

Instructions:
A 4.5"x4.5" blue mat was cut, a 4"x4" royal blue mat was cut and a 3.5"x3.5" white mat was cut out of cardstock. All three mats' edges were edged using a Krylong Silver Leafing Pen (I love these leafing pens!). I made two circular mats using Nestablities round dies and my Cuttlebug. The white inner mat was stamped with the snowmen image using Adirondack Pitch Black Ink and then they were colored using Prismacolor Pencils and blended with Odorless Mineral Spirits and a stump. I masked the snowmen to stamp the barren trees in the background. I colored the trees with Prismacolor Pencils and then highlighted the branches using a Signo White Gel Pen to simulate fallen snow on them. When doing this, I do not make continuous strokes, but rather light strokes, lifting my pen every now and then...it gives it a wispy snow line that way. The little red bird was understamped on the snowman's arm and then stamped again on another piece of cardstock, Prismacolored identically to the bird stamped underneath, and then cut out and popped up on a sliver of American Dimensionals for dimension. I sponged the circular white mat edges using Stampin Up! Brilliant Blue ink and then added "Popcorn Snow" using a Popcorn Pen. When applying this you can be liberal...the more you tap on to the cardstock, the puffier it will be when heated with a heat gun. Using the Krylon Silver Leafing Pen, I edged the teal colored circular mat and then dot doodled around the edge with a Signo White Gel Pen. I glued the white stamped mat to the teal circular mat, adding the popped up little red bird on Dimensionals.

The sentiment was stamped on white cardstock using Adirondack Pitch Black ink. I lightly sponged around the inner edge of the sentiment using Stampin Up! Tempting Turquoise, and then heavily sponged around the oval edge. I mat an oval mat in royal blue and dot doodled around the edge with a Signo White Gel Pen. I stamped the little bird again, colored him again using Prismacolor Pencils and cut him out, popping him up again on the sentiment oval. The snowflake was punched with the MS punch and then lightly sponged around it's edges with Stampin Up! Tempting Turquoise. The metallic organza ribbon was anchored to the card base and then the two circular mats were glued on top along with the matted oval sentiment. I anchored the snowflake with a Bo Bunny decorative blue brad and then tied a pretty glimmery bow to the ribbon. The card was finished by glueing to a 5"x5" white cardstock lining.

Haven't I Seen You Somewhere Before?

That whimsical, fun monkey is back from Clear Dollar Stamps and this little guy will be released on November 1st. The monkey is included in a cute set called "Surprise Monkey".

In an effort to make a "guy birthday card", I whipped out my favorite monkey and decided to make my own "flap card". A challenge for sure, but nevertheless, a barrel full of (excuse the pun), monkeys!!

Dimensions: 4.25"x12.75" Card opens from diamond flap
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps "Monkey Surprise" Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Faux Stitching, Paper Piercing, Prismacoloring with Mineral SpiritsPaper: Basic Grey Archaic Collection Designer Paper, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Mellow Moss and Old Olive Inks, Adirondack Caramel & Pitch Black Inks
Tools: Nestabilities Regular Square Dies, Stampin Up! Large Oval Punch, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch, Tsukineko Sponge Daubers, Primsacolor Pencils, Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump
Embellishments: JoAnn's Antique Copper Decorative Brad, JoAnn's Brown Square Brads, Wright's Simply Creative Tassle

Instructions: I have no clue how the measurements of this card came about...but they sort of evolved. This card has a vertical orientation, and opens under the diamond shaped mat flap...you could even lift with the tassle. The upper flap opens first, then the lower flap, which is the bottom of the front of the card, opens up. To create this card shape, you need to cut a piece of cardstock 4.5" wide by 11" high. There are three folds to this flap card: fold at 4.5" from the bottom, from there score at 4.5" and then that should leave a 2" top flap. I cut the spotted Basic Grey designer paper to fill the bottom front card which measures 4.5" high by 4.25" wide. The coordinating designer paper was cut to 4.25" wide by 2" high. Those were glued down in place. I cut a coordinating sold brown strip of paper to mimic a border along the bottom of the top flap. The two "diamond" mats were made using Nestabilities regular square dies and my Cuttlebug.

The monkey image was stamped on the white cardstock mat using Adirondack Pitch Black Ink and colored with Prismacolor Pencils and blended with Odorless Mineral Spirts and a stump. I dot doodled around the 4 edges of the "diamond" using a Marvy Brown Felt-Tip Marker. The outer "diamond" mat was cut using coordinating green Basic Grey designer paper. I heavily sponged the 4 "diamond" edges with Adirondack Caramel Ink. I paper pierced along the same edges using the Stampin Up! Mat Pack and a piercing tool. Taking the same brown Marvy marker I "colored" each hole and then drew a line from hole to hole to create Faux Stitching.

The sentiment was stamped onto white cardstock using Adirondack Pitch Black Ink and then lightly sponged around the edges with Stampin Up! Mellow Moss Ink first, and then on the very edge itself using Stampin Up! Old Olive Ink. I glued the "diamond" double mat to the top flap of the card, at it's center points, attaching the oval sentiment to the lower right "diamond" edge. I embellished with a JoAnn's Antique Copper colored Square Decorative Brad that I turned sideways for a diamond effect, threading the Wright's Ecru colored Tassle through the brad hole and anchoring it to the underside before attaching the brad through the hole.

To finish this card, I cut a piece of white cardstock 4.25"x11" to line the card, but the lower part of the "diamond" mat and attached oval were still "raw" on the underside. So, I cut another square mat matching the size of the larger square "diamond" mat using the same Nestabilities square die and cut another large oval using the Stampin Up! Large Oval punch out of white cardstock each. I glued the diamond white mat to the underside of the front diamond mat, after glueing the oval white mat to the underside of the oval front mat. Once those two shapes were lined, I attached the 4.25"x11" white cardstock lining to the rest of the card. This lining is rather thick, so I use plastic coated paper clips to hold layers together while drying...usually in an hour or two, they are dry.

A Little Lamb Peek

Linda had a little lamb,
whose release was ready to go,
and everywhere that Linda used him,
he smiled from head to toe!

The poem: Lame, maybe. The Little Lamb: Cute, he is! This darling "Little Lamb" single stamp offered by Clear Dollar Stamps will be released on November 1st. He is just adorable and his uses are so versatile. Don't you just have to have him? ; )

Dimensions: 5"X5", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps "Little Lamb" Stamp, Clear Dollar Stamps "Pretty Little Scriptures" Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits
Paper: Paper Pizzazz Pastel Mini Flowers, Colormates Medium Orange Dream & Medium Pretty in Pink, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Pretty in Pink & Only Orange Inks, Adirondack Pitch Black Ink
Tools: Nestabilities Scalloped Round Dies, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch, Signo White Gel Pen, Signo Black Gel Pen, Pink Bic Felt-Tip Marker, Micron Black Fine-Tip Felt Pen, Amercan Crafts Dimensionals, Tsukineko Sponge Daubers, Primsacolor Pencils, Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump
Embellishments: Making Memories Floral Brad, Making Memories Grommet, Michael's $ Bin Pink Satin Ribbon

Instructions:
A 5"5" orange dream cardstock mat was cut to form the card base. Nesting mats sizes were cut: Pretty in Pink square mat was cut to 4.5"x4.5", white square mat was cut to 4"x4", and then the pastel floral paper was cut to 3.75"x3.75". Three scalloped circular mats were made using Nestabilities and my Cuttlebug. I stamped the Little Lamb image onto the center scalloped circular mat using Adirondack Pitch Black Ink and coloring with Prismacolor Pencils and blending with Odorless Mineral Spirits. I sponged the edge of the small mat with Stampin Up! Pretty in Pink ink. The Colormates Orange Dream middle scalloped circular mat was dot doodled using a Signo White Gel Pen. The larger white scalloped circular mat was sponged with Stampin Up! Pretty in Pink ink around the edges, and then dot doodled using a Signo Black Gel Pen. I popped up the 3 layers together using American Crafts Dimensionals. The outer square Orange Dream mat was dot doodled using a Signo White Gel Pen, and the white square mat was sponged around the edge with Stampin Up! Only Orange ink and dot doodled using a Signo Black Gel Pen.

The sentiment was stamped onto white cardstock using Adirondack Pitch Black ink. The shape was handcut using an Xacto knife and straight edge. I sponged lightly around the inner edge with Stampin Up! Apricot Appeal and then around the edge using Stampin Up! Only Orange inks. I dot doodled in pink with a Bic marker. The sentiment was then anchored through the card layers with a Making Memories Grommet. I threaded the pink satin ribbon knot through the gromment and around the back of the card base. The orange floral brad from Making Memories was adorned with more dots using the Signo White Gel Pen, and then punched through all the layers to attach. The card was finished by gluing to a 5'X"5' white cardstock lining.

Another Peek, Deer?

This Christmas card was created using the "It's Snowing" wheel stamp that will be released by Clear Dollar Stamp on November 1st. Clear Dollar Stamps has many stamp sets from which to choose if you're undecided about making your Christmas cards. Click on their link on my right sidebar to take you directly to their site.

Dimensions: 5"X5", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps "It's Snowing" Stamp Wheel, Clear Dollar Stamps "Bountiful Branches" Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Brayering, Heat Embossing
Paper: Colormates Medium Berry Red Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Real Red Ink, Adirondack Pitch Black Ink, Versamark Watermark Ink
Tools: Nestabilities Regular & Scalloped Oval Dies, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch, Krylon Gold Leafing Pen, Signo White Gel Pen, Signo Red Gel Pen, Ranger Gold Embossing Powder, Popcorn Pen, Amercan Crafts Dimensionals, Tsukineko Sponge Daubers
Embellishments: American Crafts Jumbo Red Eyelet, Jolee's For You Reindeer and Star embellishment, Self-Adhesive Gold Beads, Brass Snowflake Charm, Michael's Gold Metallic Ribbon

Instructions:
I created this card for a Clear Dollar Stamps Sketch and "Make it Sparkle!" Challenges. To create this card, I cut a 5.5" inch square out of the Medium Berry Red and the White Cardstock, cutting each diagonally in half. I ran the white half through the Cuttlebug using the Swirls type embossing folder (I forget the name of the folder). The red half was stamped randomly using Clear Dollar Stamps "It's Snowing" wheel stamp using Versamark Watermark ink and then I embossed the snowflakes with Ranger Gold embossing powder and heating to set. I cut two oval mats using Netabilities scalloped and regular oval dies. Using a Krylon Gold Leafing Pen, I edged the white triangle mat, the red triangle mat, and the two oval mats. The reindeer is from a Jolee's For You embellishment. I glued the reindeer on the red oval mat, and then using a popcorn pen, I created "popcorn snow" and then heated it to make it raise it for dimension. I dot doodled around the edge of the red mat using a Signo White Gel Pen. The white scalloped mat was dot doodled around the scalloped edges using a Signo Red Gel Pen. I adhered the two oval mats together using American Crafts Dimensionals.

The sentiment is from another Clear Dollar Stamps set called "Bountiful Branches" and was stamped on white cardstock using Aidrondack Pitch Black ink. I lightly sponged around the inner edge of the sentiment using Stampin Up! Real Red ink and then using the same ink heavily sponged around the edge. On top of that, I edged with the Krylon Gold Leafing Pen. The sentiment was handcut using an Xacto knife and a straight edge and then anchored through the card layers with a jumbo red eyelet from Amercian Crafts.

To embellish, I threaded the gold metallic ribbon through the jumbo eyelet and wrapped around the card base, tying in a pretty bow. I added a brass snowflake charm using a Zot. Two self-adhesive gold beads were added to the upper left corner for interest and a glittery shooting star from the same Jolee's For You set was glued for the reindeer's interest. ; )

I dot doodled around both triangular mats with a Signo White Gel Pen. To finish, the card base was glued to a 5"x5" white cardstock lining.

A Little Snowman Peek

Christmas isn't far away and if you haven't purchased stamps to make your Christmas Cards, now is the time to check out "Snowman Wishes", a new stamp set being released by Clear Dollar Stamps on November 1st. The set has lots of snowmen to play with and they are such whimsical fun!

Dimensions: 5"X5", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps "Snowman Wishes" Stamp Set, Clear Dollar Stamps "It's Snowing" Stamp Wheel
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Brayering, Heat Embossing, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits
Paper: Colormates Medium Belgium Blue, Ranger Glossy Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Pretty in Pink, Lovely Lilac & Brocade Blue Inks, Adirondack Pitch Black Ink, Versamark Watermark Ink, Tsukineko Brilliance Moonlight White
Tools: Nestabilities Regular Square Dies, Marvy Round Punches, Cuttlebug Snowflake Embossing Folder, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch, Krylon Silver Leafing Pen, Signo White Gel Pen, Signo Silver Gel Pen, Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust Pen, Stampendous Detail White Opaque Embossing Powder, Micron Black Fine-Tip Felt Pen, Popcorn Pen, Amercan Crafts Dimensionals, Tsukineko Sponge Daubers, Primsacolor Pencils, Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump Embellishments: Hero Arts Self-Adhesive Blue Rhinestones, Doodlebug Accent Satin Ribbon

Instructions: I created this card for a Clear Dollar Stamps Glossy Cardstock Challenge. A 5"5" blue cardstock mat was cut to form the card base. A piece of white cardstock was cut to 4.5"x4.5" and run through the Cuttlebug using the Snowflake Embossing Folder. I cut a piece of glossy cardstock to 3.75"x3.75" size. Using a torn piece of copy paper, I laid it across the upper part of the cardstock and brayered Stampin Up! Pretty in Pink on the lower portion, letting it dry for a while. Then I covered the pink brayered bottom with torn paper and covered the upper part of the cardstock with torn paper, then brayered a middle section with Stampin Up! Lovely Lilac, letting that dry a little. I finished the background covering the middle and lower sections with torn paper, and then brayering the top section with Stampin Up! Brocade Blue. Using a spong dauber, I daubed Stampin Up! Not Quite Navy sporadically over the Brocade Blue upper background to give it a little dimension. I brushed lightly and randomly some Brilliance Moonlight White over the Lovely Lilac section, to give it a "snow glow". After the background was dry, I stamped the upper part of the background with the "It's Snowing" stamp wheel from Clear Dollar Stamps using Versamark Watermark Ink. I sprinkled white embossing powder over the upper part, making sure to cover all of the stamped watermark snowflakes, then shook off the excess powder. The embossing powder was then heated using a heat gun until the snowflakes took on a sheen.

Using Adirondack Pitch Black ink, I stamped the 3 snowman over the middle section of the background and then again on a separate piece of Paper Trey White Cardstock, which I colored with Prismacolor Pencils and cut out to pop up over the understamped snowmen. Before adhering the popped up snowmen, I drew freehand swirling gusts of snow using a Signo White Gel Pen. When drawing the swirls, I didn't draw a continuous line...I was aiming for a whimsical line, so I touched the paper ever so slightly and let it lift and then down again. Hope that makes sense! I took my Sakura Gelly Roll Clear Stardust Pen and outlined each snow swirl to give it a little sheen. Using the same pen, I dotted each snowflake dot to add more sheen. Using a Krylon Silver Leafing Pen, I edged each of the 3 cardstock layers to add more sparkly interest. The 3 snowmen were then popped up on Dimensionals and adhered to the understamped snowmen. Using a Signo White Gel Pen, I added "snow" to the snowmen's arms. I then added "snow" to the ground using a Popcorn Pen which is then heated with a heating gun to make the "popcorn" appear. The little red bird was understamped on the background before the "popcorn snow" was added and then I stamped the bird again on another piece of cardstock, coloring him and then cutting him out and popping him up over the "popcorn snow". White doodle dots were added around the circumference of the outer blue mat using a Signo White Gel Pen.

The sentiment was made using 2 Marvy circle punches. The smaller punched circle was stamped with "Joy" using Versamark Watermark Ink and then embossing in white in the same manner as the snow in the background above. I added white dot doodles around the inner circle with a Signo White Gel Pen, and then again around the larger circle using a Signo Silver Gel Pen after sponging the edge with Stampin Up! Bashful Blue Ink. I punched a hole in the top of the sentiment, and threaded the Doodlebug Accent Satin Ribbon through the hole and wrapped it behind the card base. To embellish, I added light blue self-adhesive rhinestones from Hero Arts to the bottom right corner, as well as one on the "o" in "Joy". The card was finished by gluing the card base to Paper Trey White Cardstock lining cut to size.

A Monkey Peek

Another stamp set peek for release on November 1st: This cute monkey stamp set called "Monkey Surprise" is the same cute monkey that is the focus of several CDS stamp sets. This set is versatile, as it can be used year round or for Christmastime.

Dimensions: 5"X5", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps "Monkey Surprise" Stamp Set, Clear Dollar Stamps "Surprise" Stamp
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Background Stamping, Sponging, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits
Paper: K&Co. Remake Ocean Blues Mat Pad, Colormates Light Chocolate Malt, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin Up! Bashful Blue Ink, Adirondack Pitch Black Ink
Tools: Nestabilities Regular Round & Scalloped Round Dies, Stampin Up! Large Oval Punch, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch, Krylon Gold Leafing Pen, Signo White Gel Pen, Signo Navy Blue Gel Pen, Stickles Waterfall & Crystal Glitter Glues, Amercan Crafts Dimensionals, Tsukineko Sponge Daubers, Primsacolor Pencils, Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump Embellishments: Making Memories Black Grommet, Michael's Dollar Bin Organza Ribbon

Instructions: I created this card for a Clear Dollar Stamps Color Challenge: Navy Blue, Artichoke & Kraft, CDS Challenge: No Designer Paper - Make Your Own and CDS Challenge: Make it Sparkle! The card base was cut from Colormates Light Chocolate Malt to 5"x5" size, then a Navy Blue mat was cut to 4.5"x4.5", and a white mat was cut to 4"x4". I randomly stamped the presents around the white cardstock, coloring them in with Prismacolor Pencils and blending with Odorless Mineral Spirits. Using Nestabilities Regular Round and Scalloped Round dies and my Cuttlebug, I made 2 circular mats to showcase the Surprise Monkey. I stamped the monkey on the smaller circular mat using Adirondack Pitch Black Ink, and colored with Prismacolor Pencils and blended with OMS. The edge of the white circular mat was sponged using Tsukineko daubers and Stampin Up! Bashful Blue ink. Using a Krylong Gold Leafing Pen, I edged the white circular mat, the blue scalloped circular mat, the white patterned square mat, and the chocolate malt square card base mat. I set these aside to dry for about 5 minutes.

The sentiment was made cutting two pieces of cardstock by hand: the larger artichoke mat and the smaller chocolate malt mat. I cut the ends to resemble ribbon ends. The sentiment "Surprise" is from Clear Dollar Stamps "Suprise" stamp, a single word stamp onto Paper Trey White Cardstock and cut out using the Stampin Up! Large Oval Punch. I sponged the oval edge using Stampin Up! Bashful Blue ink and then edged the oval with the same Krylon Gold Leafing Pen, as well as the chocolate mat edges underneath. While those were drying, I dot doodled around the white circular mat using a Signo Navy Blue Gel Pen, and then I dash doodled along the scalloped edges of the blue mat with a Signo White Gel Pen. Using the same navy blue gel pen, I dot doodled around the edge of the chocolate malt card base, and then with the white gel pen, I dash doodled around the edge of the navy blue square mat. The sentiment oval was dot doodled with the navy blue gel pen, and dash doodled around the chocolate malt mat under the sentiment, as well.

The presents on the white cardstock background that I stamped were then embellished with Stickles Waterfall and Crystal glitter glues. Just a little goes a long way! I used the same Crystal Stickles to embellish the bow around the monkey and on the ribbon on the gift box top he is holding. The two circular mats featuring the monkey were then adhered using American Crafts Dimensionals and the sentiment banner was then anchored with a Making Memories grommet (super jumbo eyelet). I threaded a white light blue organza ribbon knot through the grommet and around the back of the card to adorn. The card was finished by gluing the card base to a 5"x5" white cardstock lining.

A little B&B

Tom and I have just returned from a 2 day trip to Chincoteague Island, Virginia. It borders the National Seashore of Assateague Island, Virginia. The trip was taken as an early Anniversary Trip, as our actual anniversary is in November, but we preferred to take this particular trip in October, when the day temperatures were relatively warm and the leaves were colorful. On nearby Assateague Island in Virginia, you enter the Park into Maritime Forest where nature abounds, from Sika deer to stately White Egrets and as you wind through the forest you come to natural wetlands and then to the expansive sandy beach of Assateague, as energetic white foamy waves pound the surf. Very picturesque and and lovely place to get in touch with nature, God and self.

The photos above are of our Bed & Breakfast accommodation, The Channel Bass Inn, located on Church Street in Chincoteague, town proper. The photos are of the front of the inn, the parlor and tea room. The innkeepers, David and Barbara Weidenheft are from Chicago and Leeds, England, respectively. Barbara prepared delicious homemade scones served with strawberry jam and fresh whipped cream, delicious warm compote served with granola and mushroom/egg omelets. The breakfasts were a full course meal, and would fill you up for the day! David was a very low-key, accommodating host showing us around the property and suggesting places to dine. It was a relaxing destination and we left with a few more precious memories. Now, that I'm back home in Maryland and back to the routine...I hope to have a card or two to share tomorrow. Thanks for visiting!

A little hoot!

Well, you're probably wondering, "where has she been?" (meaning me)...or maybe you really don't care...nevertheless, I have been busy stamping for Clear Dollar Stamps and their November sneak peeks, so I didn't have much time to stamp cards that I can show at the moment. But, this little hooter is an exception.

I recently purchased this darling set from Clear Dollar Stamps called "What a Hoot". You talk about a supercute stamp set! This is it!!! Well, it was released by CDS this month and can be found at their website (click on the their logo on the right sidebar) for only $7.99!! Anyway, I couldn't wait to ink it up and get going with it. I made this card last night and was inspired by the copper colored metallic cardstock that my friend, Traci Major sent me. Once I decided I was going to use the copper cardstock, I envisioned browns and greens to go with it. So, here are the deets:

The card base was cut out of Basic Grey's Archaic Collection designer paper - a mottled moss green to a 5"x5" square. Next a square mat measuring 4.5"x4.5" was cut out of a Basic Grey coordinating patterned paper. Another square mat measuring 3.5"x3.5" was cut out of a copper colored metallic cardstock, and then another square mat measuring 3"x3" was cut out of Colormates Light Spring Green. This Light Spring Green square was run through the Cuttlebug embossing folder called Spots & Dots (I think). The patterned mat and the Light Spring Green mat were both edged using a Krylon Copper Leafing Pen and set aside to dry. Next, I made 3 circular mats using Nestabilities scalloped circular dies and the regular circular dies. The largest scalloped mat was cut out of the same mottled moss green Basic Grey paper as the card base. The middle mat was cut out of the copper colored metallic cardstock, and the smallest mat was cut out of Paper Trey White Cardstock. If you haven't tried Paper Trey's White Cardstock...you must! You'll never buy anything else!

Using another Clear Dollar Stamps set called "Bountiful Branches", I stamped a tree branch with Adirondack Caramel ink, and then pine needles from the same set using Stampin Up!'s Always Artichoke ink. I stamped the little hoot owl in Adirondack Pitch Black ink on the tree branch, and again on another piece of white cardstock. I colored both the owl images with Prismacolor Pencils, blending with odorless mineral spirits and a blending stump. I cut out the owl that was stamped on the other piece of white cardstock. The edge of the inner white cardstock circular mat was paper pierced free hand around the edge, after sponging the edge with Adirondack Caramel Ink. I paper pierced free hand around the scallops on the copper colored metallic circular mat, and then I edged the larger scalloped green circular mat using the Krylon Copper Leafing Pen, and then paper piercing by hand the scallops on that mat.

I added more paper piercing around the edge of the square copper colored mat using the Stampin Up! Mat Pack and a piercing tool. After wrapping the beautiful caramel satin ribbon that my friend Traci Major gave me around the two inner square mats and anchoring that on the back, I added a row of self-adhesive amber colored rhinestones from Hero Arts up the middle.

The sentiment was stamped on white cardstock using Adirondack Pitch Black Ink and then punched with the Stampin Up! Large Oval Punch. I lightly sponged around the inner edge using Stampin Up!'s Mellow Moss Ink and then again more heavily using Stampin Up!'s Always Artichoke Ink. I free hand paper pierced around the sentimental oval. Using a Sakura Gelly Roll Clear Stardust Glitter Pen, I connected each paper pierced hole on the sentiment oval with a line to create Faux Stitching with a shimmer. Using the same Stardust Glitter Pen, I traced over each pine needle on the tree branches to give it more shimmer. I glued the three circular mats together, and then popped them up on American Crafts Dimensionals on top of the four square layers underneath. I added a large self-adhesive amber colored rhinestone to the sentiment oval, along with a row of smaller ones to the caramel colored bow that I attached to the bling ribbon.

Jade's Day

I had to share some photos that my husband, Tom took of our niece's wedding day yesterday, on October 11, 2008. The wedding was held at Millstone Farms in Darlington, Maryland. The farm is an estate farm rich in history and glorious in beauty. The sun was gleaming through the willow tree branches as the bride was escorted down the lawn by her father, Richard (Tom's brother). The temperature was around 73 degrees and the soft autumn glow that warmed the atmosphere coupled with the all the colorful chrsyanthemums, pumpkins and hale bales made for a lovely Autumn wedding. The guests were seated on rows of hale bales covered in off-white sheeting in rows much like the pews in a church. At the end of each hay bale row was a black candle lantern hanging on a a post. A brown and white springer spaniel wandered aimlessly across the lawn throughout the wedding ceremony. The ceremony lasted about 25 minutes and afterward the photographers were busy scrambling to document and preserve precious memories for a lifetime.

There was a white pitched tent edged in twinkling lights all around the canopy over the area where approximately 25 round tables covered in white tablecloths waited for the guests. Nearby the lawn where the wedding ceremony took place, was a rustic, working barn that had been cleaned out on the ground floor where they placed an antique jelly cupboard, sideboard, Duncan Phyfe sofa, hay bales, jelly jars, oers'doeurves, wine and beer...all under the glow of soft candlight in jars. Very charming scene in that barn! Outside the barn was a circular table covered with small jars of homemade blackberry jam. Attached to each jar was a piece of natural colored raffia with a handwritten tag with all the guests' names and their assigned table numbers. The homemade blackberry jam was a keepsake for the guests. I have to say, when we opened the jam and spread it on our English muffins this morning, Tom and I were delighted to say the least! Dee-lish!

The menu consisted of large Kaiser rolls, cole slaw, sweet potato salad, baked beans, mashed potatoes, gravy, ham, sliced beef, BBQ shredded beef and more! After the bride and groom were finished with photographs and the bride and groom danced, guests were seated at their tables for the bride and groom toast. Dinner was served afterward, along with a live band and much dancing done by children and adults alike. Alongside the white tent was an old stone wall lining the property where numerous jar candles alit danced and glimmered in the night sky. A bonfire was to be lit later on after the bride and groom changed into more casual clothing and guests were invited to stay for that. Tom and I bowed out and headed home around 8:00 pm, leaving all the rustic activities to the younger set. All in all, quite a lovely wedding!

A corny card

Dimensions: 5"X5", Card opens from bottom
Stamps: Clear Dollar Stamps Pumpkin Patch Stamp Set
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Prismacoloring with Mineral Spirits
Paper: Colormates Medium Autumn Red, Terra Cotta and Medium Chocolate Malt Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: SU! Apricot Appeal, So Saffron and Real Red Inks, Stazon Black
Tools: Cuttlebug Dots & Circles Embossing Folder, Regular Round Nestabilities, SU! Large Oval Punch, Marvy Small Circle Punch, American Crafts Dimensionals, Sakura Glitter Pen, Krylon Copper Leafing Pen, Copper Stickles, Signo Black Gel Pen, Signo White Gel Pen, Primsacolor Pencils, Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump, Sponge Daubers, Karen Foster Click-It Punch
Embellishments: Red & White Gingham Ribbon, Natural & Red Raffia

Instructions:
To create this card, I cut a 5"x5" Medium Autumn Red card base, followed by 2 mats at decreasing increments of 3/8" each in the Medium Chocolate Malt and the Terra Cotta. I ran the Terra Cotta mat through the Cuttlebug using the Circles and Dots Embossing Folder (I think that's the name) and set aside. I cut 2 nesting circles using the Nestabilities Large Circle Die set: the largest one in Medium Autumn Red and the smaller one in Paper Trey White Cardstock. I edged all 4 sides of all 3 square mats using the Krylon Copper Leafing Pen and set aside to dry. The two circular mats were also edged with the same Copper Pen. Allow this time to dry.

I stamped the main focal image onto the smaller white circle using Stazon Black ink. I colored the scarecrow and cornstalks and the fence below the scarecrow using Prismacolor Pencils and Mineral Spirits, blending with a stump. I heavily, and I mean heavily, sponged the background of the sky in the middle of the white circle using SU! So Saffron ink and then again over that with SU! Apricot Appeal. I lightly ran a white Brilliance ink pad over that to lighten and diffuse the intensity. I outlined each cornstalk with a Sakura glitter pen to highlight the cornfield. Using the same pen, I outlined the scarecrow's "hair", as well. I "x" doodled around the upper circle using a Signo Black Gel Pen. The sun was made using a Marvy Small ircle Punch. I drew glitter circles inside the sun's perimeter using Copper-Colored Stickles Glitter Glue. I outlined the sun's edge with the Krylon Copper Leafing Pen. I let the sun's glitter dry overnight.

The sentiment was stamped onto Paper Trey White Cardstock using Black Stazon Ink. I punched the sentiment out using a SU! Large Oval Punch. Then the sentiment was sponged heavily in the center with SU! Apricot Appeal Ink and around the edges using SU! Real Red Ink. I dot doodled around the sentiment oval using a Signo Black Gel Pen and edged in copper, as above and set aside. The little owl was stamped onto Paper Trey White Cardstock with Black Stazon Ink and colored with Prismacolor Pencils and blended with Mineral Spirits. I cut out the little Owl in detail.

The chocolate malt layer and the terra cotta Cuttlebugged layer was glued to the red square card base. The two circular mats were glued together. I dash-doodled around the red mat using a Signo White Gel Pen. I popped up the sun on the stamped white circle with an American Crafts Dimensional, and then glued the oval sentiment to the base of the 2 circular mats. I popped up the little owl over the sentiment. I anchored the red & white gingham ribbon to the back of the card base. The matted circular image was thgn popped up on Dimensionals as well over the 3 square mats. Two bow knots were added to the ribbon strip.

I created a cornstalk sheeve using natural raffia, cutting in equal lengths and then securing with a piece of red raffia. I punched a hole through all the card layers and threaded the sheeve stalk through that and around the card side and secured to the back of the card base. To finish the card, the card base was glued to the card white cardstock lining.